Aerial device



y 11950 H. c. WATSON 2,506,755

AERIAL DEVICE Filed May 14, 1943 IN VEN TOR.

Patented May 9, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AERIAL DEVICE Hugh- C." Watson, Chicago, Ill.

Application May '14, 1948, Serial No. 27,129

(01. zeal-33) 4 Claims.

The present invention relatesto aerial: devices and particularly to devices in which hot air is used to produce buoyancy.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an aerial device which utilizes the suns rays for heating the air within the device and causing it to rise.

It is another object to provide a device that is light in weight and which may be controlled from the ground in a manner similar to that of a kite or captive balloon.

It is a further object to provide a device that is economical to manufacture and which is capable of carrying scientific instruments aloft.

With these and various other objects in view, the invention may consist of certain novel features of construction and operation as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the specification, drawings and claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, which illustrate an embodiment of the device and wherein like reference characters are used to designate like parts- Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the device;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective, partly in cross section, as viewed from above the horizontal plane.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, a dome is formed of an inner wall 12 and an outer wall it of lightweight, transparent plastic or other suitable material, and the walls are concentrically disposed with an air space l6 between them. The walls of the dome may be maintained in spaced relation by a ring I8 positioned between the rims of the dome walls.

A circular floor member is provided for the dome which consists of an inner surface 20 which has a dull black finish preferably superimposed on a light aluminum foil. The outer surface 22, which is spaced from the inner surface, may be made of plastic and is spaced from the inner surface providing an air space 24. A seal 26 secures the floor to the dome and maintains the margins of the surfaces 20 and 22 in spaced relatlon. The floor is spaced inwardly from the rims of the dome layers l2 and I4 so that a portion 28 extends downwardly below the floor.

A vent pipe 30 has its upper end 32 opening into the hot air space between the dome and floor and is secured to the floor. This pipe preferably extends downwardly through the center of the circular floor of the dome upon the central axis of the domed surface. The pipe also has openings 34 between the inner layer 20 and outer layer 22 of the floor. The lower end of the pipe 38 is provided with a spherical container 36 which may carry instruments or be equipped with remote vane controls. A ring 38 is secured to the bottom of the container so that a wire may be attached to it for controlling the device from the ground. A vent opening 40 is provided in the pipe 35 at a point between the floor 22 and container 36.

A number of spaced fins or vanes are secured to the outer surface of the dome I4 adjacent the rim and are disposed at an angle to the axis of the dome.

In operation, the transparent dome transmits sunlight and heat which is absorbed by the dull black inner surface of the floor 20. The heat of the infra-red rays tends to bank up between the inner surface l2 of the dome and the floor 20 resulting in the device becoming buoyant. As an upward motion is imparted to the device, the vanes 42 cause the device to rotate or spin. The air pressure within the dome and between the surfaces of the floor is equalized with the atmospheric pressure as the device rises by means of the vent 40 in the vent pipe 32. Similarly, the space between the layers 12 and M of the dome is vented at 44 to the atmosphere by vents in the ring l8.

It is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited by the exact embodiment shown, which is by way of illustration and not limitation, as various other forms will, of course, be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a transparent dome and a floor disposed adjacent the bottom of said dome comprising inner and outer spaced layers and means for venting to the atmosphere the space between said dome and the inner layer of the floor and the space between the layers of said floor comprising a pipe axially disposed with respect to said dome having one end opening into the space between the floor and dome, said pipe having an opening between the layers of the floor and having an opening below the outer layer of the floor.

2. In a device of the character described, a transparent dome, a circular floor disposed adjacent the bottom of said dome and engaging the inner surface thereof, said floor having a dull black inner surface superimposed on a foil base.

3. In a device of the character described, a transparent dome, a floor closing the bottom of said dome and having a heat absorbing inner surface, a vent pipe axially disposed with respect to said dome extending through said floor and opening into said dome, said pipe having an opening below said floor and a container secured to said pipe below said floor.

4. In a device of the character described, a transparent dome having inner and outer spaced walls, a floor closing the bottom of said dome having irmer and outer spaced layers, the inner surface of the inner layer having a dull black finish on a foil base, a vent pipe axially disposed with respect to said dome opening into the space between the inner wall of the dome and inner layer of the floor and into the space between the inner and outer layers of the floor, said vent pipe having an opening below the outer layer of the floor and a spherical container secured to said pipe below the outer layer of said floor.

HUGH C. WATSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

